Spring structure.



G. A FRANZ. SPRING STRUCTURE. A PPLICATI ON FILED AUC.5, 1912. I 1,150,754.. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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Win E5555 v INVENTOR 6% 5 g W Allorlzey G. A. FRANZ.

Patenfed Aug. 17, 1915.

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SPRING STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FIL'ED AUG-5. 1912.

1,150,754 I Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR I -%J 7ZZ7/ Allorney WTED STATES PATENT @FFlEE.

GUSTAV A. FRANZ, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR '10 JACKSON CUSHION SPRING COMPANY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 19115.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that .I, GUSTAV A. FnANz, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring structures.

One object is to provide a spring struc ture having means whereby when the structure is upholstered there may be formed at the front upper edge thereof a roll with a minimum amount of hair and upholstering material which will produce not only a luxurious appearing cushion but which Wlll provide a soft, pliable upper front edge in contradistinction to the usual stifi edge and common square facin efiect.

Another object resides in the provision of a spring structure whose side springs are so mounted and connected to other parts of the structure as to prevent sidewise movement either inwardly or outwardly of the structure.

Another object resides in the provision of a spring structure embodying upper and lower sets of springs with one set of springs composed preferably of lighter gage wire than the other and with the front of the structure constructed to provide for elasticity particularly at the front of the structure between the side edges thereof.

Another object resides in the provision of a spring structure provided with means adapted to'overhang the upper front edge thereof to provide for the formation of a soft ,pliable upper front edge and to cooperate with the springs of the structure to prevent sagging or weaving sidewise of the springs or buckling thereof at their centers.

A still further object resides in the provision of a spring structure embodying the aforesaid characteristics and others wherein there is embodied. means for reinforcing the upper portion of the structure to provide for pliability and comfort to the rider.

It is still further designed to provide a spring structure embodying a frame with springs mounted thereupon and with substantially U-shaped yieldable elements havvation.

ing both of their leg portions extending from the front row to the rear row of springs and connected to the intersecting springs and with their bight portions preferably extending beyond the front row of springs to provide for the formation of an economical and pliable upholstered roll at the upper front edge of the structure.

With the above and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the in vention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a front ele- Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line a-a of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line bb of Fig. 1, lookposite edges of which are connected suitable supporting wires 11 by means of suitable clips 12 and to which supporting wires may be secured, by means of suitable clips 13, rows of springs 14. Disposed on top of said springs 14 are springs 15 which are preferably of lighter gage wire than the springs 14 to render the upper part of the structure more pliable than the lower part thereof.

Secured to the abutting convolutions of the upper and lower border springs is an intermediate frame 16 which is preferably disposed upon a slight incline rearwardlv with respect to the base frame. Clips 17 may be employed for fastening the abutting convolutions of the upper and lower springs to the intermediate frame at the rear and front thereof, but the said border springs are connected together and to the intermediate frame by means of the band clips 18 with the abutting convolutions of the remaining upper and lower springs connected by similar band clips 19.

The character A indicates an upper frame whose side portions 20 are preferably arranged upon an incline in the same plane as the intermediate frame. This top frame A is not continuous but preferably has an open front and engages the intermediate frame at the front of the structure. side portions of the top frame are directed inwardly, as at 21, and secured at these points by means of suitable clips 22, to the upper front corner springs of the structure. From these upper front corner springs the front portions of the top frame are directed downwardly upon an incline, as at 23, with these downwardly directed portions 23 terminating short of each other and secured tothe intermediate frame 16 by means of suitable clips 24. It is preferable to kink the intermediate frame 16 a the front there-' of where these clips 24 secure the inclined. portions 23 of the top frame to the intermediate frame and to slightly deflect inwardly the extremities of the inclined portions 23, as at 25, so that the clips 24 cannot slide on the intermediate frame and so that because of the deflected portions 25 of the inclined portions 23 the side portions of the top frame, and consequently all of the side springs 'cannot be deflected sidewise either inwardly or outwardly of the structure, thereby insuring vertical movement of the side springs of the structure, thereby preventing inward tilting movement of the corner springsor outward buckling'thereof. Furthermore, by virtue of these inclined portions, 23 of the top frame, the upper front corner springs of the structure are rendered less resilient than the intermediate front row of top springs. The rider of the seat seats himself centrally of the structure, and by virtue of the upper frame A being not continued across the structure but deflected or inclined as described, the upper frame is open at its front and thefront row of springs are very pliable so that the upper front .edge of the structure possesses such resiliency as 'to give comfort to the rider under normal or abnormal conditions.

To aid the heavier gaged lower springs 14 in their reinforcing action on the upper lighter gage springs, there may be extended from the rear ,ofrthe lower frame 10 the upwardly inclined rods or elements 26 which have their forward ends connected ,in any suitable manner to the front edge of the intermediate frame 16' by means of suitable olips27. There may be as many of these elements 26 as desired. These elements 26 cooperate with, or reinforce the intermediate frame or wire element 16 in preventing outward or inward buckling of the front row of springs intermediate their ends.

The

the upper front portion of the structure I may employ steel bands 28 each of which bands may be bent intermediate its ends to provide a substantially U-shaped spring member including a spring bight portion 29 and upper and lower leg portions 30 and 31, respectively. There is preferably arranged one band for each row of springs extending from the front to the rear of the structure and the lower legs 31 of each band are preferably extended beneath the front of the intermediate frame and riveted or otherwise secured to the aforesaid clips 19. The upper legs 30 of these bands are preferably riveted or otherwise secured to clips 32 connected to the upper convolutions of the upper set of springs. The bight portion 29 of these bands overhangs the upper front portion of the structure and provides for the formation 'of a soft, pliable roll at the front edge of the cushion. V

The legs 31 interlace with said clips 18 and with convolutions of the springs and by virtue of the leg portions 31 of these steel bands interlacing with said clips 18 and with convolutions of the springs and being extended from front to rear intermediate the upper and lower frames, the upper and lower sets of'springs 14: and '15 are prevente'd from sagging or weaving sidewise or buckling in the center, the bands holding the springs in upright position and yet giving them such elasticity as to provide for comfort to the rider.

The upper and lowersprings at the points where they abut may be connected by means of suitable links 33 if desired, and to facilitate upholstering of the spring structure webbing material 34 may be disposed beneath the clips 32 and the upper legs 30 of the steel bands, as shown. i

What is claimed is l. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, an intermediate frame having connection with the border springs, the intermediate frame having spaced kinks in its front, the upper frame being formed at its front to provide an open front and to provide spaced front portions which have connection with the front corner springs and which are unconnected with the front springs between the front corner springs whereby the upper ends of the front springs between the corner springs are unrestrained and free to move independently of the upper frame, the front of the intermediate frame preventing buckling of the front row of springs in' termediate their ends, the aforesaid spaced front portions of the upper frame terminating in downwardly inclined portions, and means for securing the extremities of said inclined portions of the upper frame to the kinked portions of the intermediate frame so as to stiffen the front corners of the structure and to prevent spreading of the corners of the structure. I

2. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, an intermediate frame having connection with the springs, the front of the of said intermediate frame so as to stiffen the front corners of the structure and so as to prevent spreading of the corner springs.

3. A spring structure comprising upper I and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, an intermediate frame having connection with the springs, the front of the intermediate frame being arranged to prevent buckling of the front row of springs inter'r nediate their ends, the upper frame I beinglopen at its front and including downwardl'y inclined portions, means forconnecting the downwardly inclined portions of the upper frame to the front portion of said intermediate frame so as to stiffen the front corners of the structure vand so as to prevent spreading of the corner springs, and yieldablemeans overhapging the front of the structure to form a rounded projection at the upper portion only thereof so as to provide for the formation of an upholstered pliable roll at the upper front edge of the structure with a minimum amount of upx holstering material, said rounded projection extending outwardly. of the front of the structure beyond the lower frame and being movable toward and away from the lower frame under the weight of the rider. 4. A spring-structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, an intermediate frame having connection with the border springs, the intermediate frame having spaced kinks in its front, the upper frame being formed at its front to provide an open front to provide spaced front poftions which have connection with the front corner springs and which are unconnected with the front springs between the front corner springs whereby the upper ends of the front springs between the corner springs are unrestrained and free to move independently of the upper frame, the front of the intermediate frame preventing buckling of the front row of springs intermediate their ends, the aforesaid spaced front portions Tiff the upper frame terminating indewnwardly inclined portions, means for securing the extremities of said inclined portions of the upper frame to the kinked portions of the intermediate frame so as to stiffen the front corners of the structure and to prevent spreading of the corners of the structure, and yieldable bands connected to the structure and overhanging the front of the same to form a plurality of rounded projections so as to provide for the formation of an upholstered pliable overhanging roll at the upper front edge of the structure with a minimum amount of upholstering material.

5. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, an intermediate frame having connection with the border springs, the intermediate frame having spaced kinks in its front, the upper frame being formed at its front to provide an open front and to provide spaced front portions which have connection with the front corner springs and which are unconnected with the front springs between the front corner springs whereby the upper ends of the front springs between the corner springs are unrestrained and free to move independently of the upper frame, the front of the intermediate frame preventing buckling of the front row of springs intermediate their ends, the aforesaid spaced front portions of the upper frame terminating in downwardly inclined portions, means for securing the extremities of said inclined portions of the upper frame to the kinked portions of the intermediate frame so as to stiffen the front corners of the structure and to prevent spreading of 6.- A spring structure comprising upper 4 and lower frames, a wire element extending along the front of the structure and having connection with-the front row of springs, said wire preventing buckling of the front row of springs, the upper frame being open at its front and including spaced inclined portions, means for connecting the spaced inclined portions of the upper frame to said wire element so as to prevent spreading of the front corner springs, and means connected to said wire element and to the lower frame to hold the springs straight up and down and prevent the front row of springs from buckling outward or inward.

7. A spring structure comprising upper and .lower frames, a wire element having connection with the front row of springs, said wire-element having spaced kinks intermediate its ends, the upper frame being open at its front and having'conn'ection with ward spreading or inward tilting of the the front corner springs and including front corner springs at their ends. 10 downwardly directed inclined portions In testimony whereof I aflix my signature which are unconnected with the front row in presence of two witnesses.

5 of springs, and means for connecting said GUSTAV A. FRANZ. inclined portions with the kinks of saidwire Witnesses: 1 element so as to stifi'en the structure at its C. H. EDGAR,

front corners and so as to prevent out- J. F. CLARK. 

